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Jamie Oliver's Restaurant Opens 20 February
Good early year news for food and drink in Manchester
HERE's a press release we've received. Jamie's Italian on King Street is opening at last. This is good news. We like the Liverpool outlet of the big-grinned chef a lot (click here for a review) and we love the building he's giving life to in Manchester. Let's hope the combination works well.
The newest in the collection of Jamie Oliver’s hugely successful high street restaurants ‘Jamie’s Italian’ will open in the former Midland Bank building on King Street on 20th February.
The private dining rooms and events spaces will be housed within the basement vault where the banks 200 safety deposit boxed were stored.
Many original features of the Grade II listed building, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1928 and built between 1933 and 1935, will be retained including marble clad columns, intricate mahogany wall panellings and a number of historic art deco features.
The private dining rooms and events spaces will be housed within the basement vault where the banks 200 safety deposit boxed were stored.
Jamie’s Italian has received outstanding reviews from many of Britain’s most respected food critics. The food is affordable and there's friendly and welcoming service. Fresh pasta is made daily on the premises and the menu changes seasonally, although some favourites always stay.
An excited Jamie Oliver (When is he not? Ed) said: “The Manchester restaurant is going to be one of the jewels in the Jamie’s Italian crown. It’s a fantastic building in a vibrant, exciting city and I know the people of Manchester are going to love it. I’ve worked hard with my team to make sure we’ve got incredible food but at affordable prices so I hope everyone comes and checks us out and then spreads the word."
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52 comments so far, continue the conversation, write a comment.
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Can't wait! :)
I look forward to visiting in the first couple of weeks!
Been to the Jamies in Bath. .Brillaint great fresh food!! and great price definatley recomend the FISH!!
Opening on my 30th birthday! Wonder what the chances are of getting a table on the opening night!!! :o)
A friend went to the Liverpool one and said it was pants!
Glad to see you like to make your own mind up!
David, a friend once went to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence filled with one of the Western world's great collections of art and thought it 'a bit boring'. Depends on the friend I suppose
I thought the Uffizi was a bit boring too, but I did enjoy my visit to Jamie's Italian in Bath.
I'll give six months, remember Mr Blanc
Bish bash bosh, here's your pasta. Look forward to trying it, let's be honest the amount of books of his i've bought has practically paid for the fit-out.
Just to see the old bank building looking so good makes it all worthwhile. Even if the food isn't great, i'll stand outside with a doggy bag from Cicchetti admiring the architecture - because that's how interesting I am.
BRILLIANT.
At last, somehwere proper to pinch business from Rio F's nasty Rosso joint over the road, cannot wait to check this place out!!! :-)
these are v average...basically things youcan easily cook at home using his cook books...not bad...just not particularly exciting
Some people are never happy.
Fresh food, fairly cheap, in a landmark building, with an owner who obviously like real food, in a struggling end of King St.
Really - what is the problem ??
About time King St got pimped up..
Great to see the building getting some use again, looking forward to checking it out
Bored of these 'v.average' comments...do you really think they would have as many openings of JI throughout the country if that was the general consensus!? Decent pasta places where the food is genuinely 'fresh' and affordable are seldom seen. If you don't like it stick to the well known Italian chain restaurant which is well known for its microwaving...you know you will be trying to get a table, good honest food, good prices, great setting. End of. L.
What has number of outlets got to do with the quality? Greggs anybody?
If it wasn't decent quality, prople wouldn't have continued to be repeat customers, and the place would have shut down. I'm not saying it's Michelin Star quality, but it's profits and growth year and year surely mean something?
And if you want exciting, go to the Fat Duck, it's all about the target market. 'Exciting' establishments in Manc are about as sustainable as Gordon Ramsay opening up in Oldham...as Establishment and the two Urbis restaurants have shown.
Dear Anon you've not been out much in Manchester recently. I think exciting places such as 63 Degrees are well worth a try. There are at least fifteen very strong places I recommend in Manchester with utter confidence. Let's not be so negative
You don't know what you're talking about.
The Urbis cafe closed when the rest of Urbis closed, so nothing to do with profitability. The Modern closed because the NFM wasn't interested in operating it.
Personally, I do think there are exciting places in Manc, my comment was in reply to the comment above: 'these are v average...basically things youcan easily cook at home using his cook books...not bad...just not particularly exciting.' Wasn't referring to the Urbis cafe. Was referring to the 2 restaurants that resided at the top of Urbis, including the one that preceded the Modern. Unfortunately , it seems dining establishments like this (sadly) have no longevity, as is what happened with Establishment and Ithaca. Just some food for thought in response to the previous poster complaining that JI wasn't exciting enough, variety is a good thing, not everything has to be Michelin Star contenders.
Amazing building and just round the corner from the office, wonder if I can blag a table, ha!
Some really miserable Pom Northeners on here, yawn, always needing something to moan about, never 'appy. Give it a chance to utter an initial breath at least please.
I really don't understand the negative responces from everyone?? Give the guy a chance... He's British, He's bringing something exciting to our city, revamping an old building- bringing it alive, and offering some good ol tasty grub!! Stop being Victor Meldrew..... Try to embrace the exciting things that come to our beautiful city....... Good luck Jamie I say!!!! Bore off you moaner's!
If the food on offer really is consistently high quality and decent value for money then it will be much needed competition for the many, many mid market Italian restaurants that offer a disappointing or inconsistent experience and poor value. The likes of Olive press spring to mind here.
when can we book?
MACWIDDUP
Has anyone been able to find a telephone number to book?
In my humble view if you want to eat Italian, go to an authentic Italian restaurant (like Stock). 'Jamie's Italian' is too formulaic!
Have asked for the booking details and we should get them today.
Fantastic Jonathan, any chance of an email from Confidential with this info?
I think it was probably DTZ's press release that you received! - as follows:
DTZ Property Management appointed at Jamie’s Italian, 100 King Street
DTZ, part of UGL Services, a division of UGL Limited (ASX: UGL), has been instructed to manage 100 King Street, Manchester on behalf of Commercial Development Projects Limited (CDP). The building has been selected by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver as the location for his 28th restaurant in his chain of Jamie’s Italian’s.
The Grade II listed building which was previously occupied by HSBC, has a total floor space of 46,000 sq ft, spread over ten floors.
Designed by architect Sir Edward Lutyens in 1928, the Art Deco building is currently undergoing a £1million fit out of the basement, ground and mezzanine floors by new tenant Jamie’s Kitchen.
Plans for the works being taken out by Jamie’s Kitchen will involve retaining original features such as marble clad columns, intricate mahogany wall panelling and a number of historic art deco features in keeping with the character of the former Midland Bank building.
Howard Hill, surveyor at DTZ commented: “We are delighted to have been appointed to provide management services to CDP at what is considered one of the most prestigious buildings in the city centre, 100 King Street.”
Rob Yates, Director at DTZ responsible for marketing the office space above the restaurant comments: “In totality the building will provide over 27,000 sq ft of contemporary, Grade A accommodation. The building is available to lease in self contained floors from 3,000 – 5,500 sq ft. Due to the lack of new development, we anticipate strong demand, the building offers occupiers a superb address and an excellent floor plate with fantastic natural light on three elevations.”
Yeah can't wait. Hopefully I can book it for my birthday bash - tho did it not get reported somewhere in January that it wasn't opening till 2013?
A fantastic building this, one of my favourites in the city - If you have never been inside this place you will be amazed. Good to hear the panelling and marble are to stay, I wonder if he will keep the huge walk in vault and safety deposit boxes?
I visited Jamie's Italian in Canary Wharf just before christmas and the food, service and atmosphere were excellent and really good value too.
In regard to booking, I'm not 100% if this will be the case in Manchester but the Canary Wharf restaurant is a 'turn up and wait' kind of place and I think the rest of the chain may be too ie you can't actually book a table - Obviously this won't be the case on the opening night but getting a table after that should be easy enough. The kind of attitude that's perfect for Manchester I think!
Hope it's good - the one in Nottingham is beautiful, with incredible staff - but burnt food. Fingers crossed!
Bookings will be taken from the launch date, 20 Feb. That's the official line
Lets be positive people, a new place opening up can only be a good thing, providing some much needed jobs for local people. As long as the food is good, service and price is right it should be successful.
EAT IT
just try it and see i guess. It's no good ranting unless you try it. If the one in Liverpool is pants, then maybe the chef or the staff are to blame. If a restaurant is bad it can only be the fault of the people runnimg it end of!
I loved Jamies Italian in Birmingham when it first opened last year - a breath of fresh air. Fast service from bright knowledgeable staff and the food is good - rustic Italian mainly and enough choice for most people on a tight menu. That said, the last couple of meals were a tiny tiny bit disappointing so I hope they are not becoming complacent. Of course it won't suit everyone, especially people who are expecting it to be like San Carlo or Rosso (which can be hit and miss and is rapidly losing my vote, even though I love the beautiful room). No bookings are allowed in Brum except for large parties but I always managed to get in, these places are so vast. Exception is probably Fri/Sat when I hear they are still queueing up for tables at peak dining times. Good luck Mr O.
I went to the Bristol one, the food was amazing and the bill very low considering the amount of wine we drank and food we ate. I shall be going to this one too!
I will try it with an open mind and a primed credit card!!
I think its great news for the Parish of Manchester!!
Yet another white elephant im afraid and sorry to be so cynical but nearby Raymond Blancs place never really prospered either. I'll give it tops 3 years? Its just another playground for the London overspill, MediaCity wouldve been a better option. Jamie wants to walk a mile down Rochdale Road and get some kids off the streets in Collyhurst and train them up as chefs maybe? Now THAT would be great PR news!! People just dont have the money to be eating out that regularly in this city. Go and look in restaurant windows on a Tuesday say? Empty. Even the middle classes are feeling the squeeze and are having to sacrifice their annual five star holidays, so what makes Jamies new gaff so special and recessionproof? especially when you can grab his cookbook and DIY it........Watch this space...
Booked my two and a quarter hours.......... Dont knock it till you have tried it !!!!
went last night, bad service, was told they had run out of two starters, after complaining, it turned out they had not run out, they just did not have them prepped and they considered it was 'too time consuming'....... Waiter them became obnoxious, stressed, dropped plates on the floor complete with food, did not clean it up - it was left on the floor for the whole evening, do not think it is good enough, Jamie's name is over the door and so that creates a certain level of expectation, too many good restaurants in town with great waiting staff to waste any further time re visiting here - the excuse of "it is teething problems" does not really wash, Jamie has loads of restaurants, knows how it works and is allegedly a serial perfectionist about food and service, neither was up to standard, Seen his tweets to Rosso - I would not say Rosso has a thing to worry about, if this continues at Jamie's, they will be driving the business over to Rosso no problems.......
Hi
We tried to get in last Friday four of us an AGAIN we were told it was too busy we would have to come back later. We only wanted a drink. Eventually the lady at the desk said "go on I will pretend I haven't seen you". Whats that all about. Thats the second time that has happened.
I am of the same opinion and you - I don't think Rosso has anything to worry about.
Oh and also, not offered the dessert menu....! Was told should not have had high expectations and it is just Jamie's name over the door, how to ensure you do not get repeat custom...!
well went to jamie olivers resturant lastnight and ow no big dissapointment food arrived cold not correct orders no side salads brought out wot were ordered food was very dissapointing 11 of us went for my sisters birthday all i can say is rosso which we went to for my birthdays got nothing to worry about at all like another comment says to many good resturants san carlos lounge 10 in manchester to go to told the waitress linzy who wasvnice but could do with smiling a little bit she said she was getting the manager which we never saw we just paid and left def will not be visiting again big let down for jamie oliver
After reading the world's longest sentence... one question. I trust you complained and sent your food back?
terrible, poor food, poor service ,amazing building wasted on this over exposed company .bear in mind the name has been bought by a chain and jamie does not have much to do with it anyway (alledgedly).
Lee, I had lunch there yesterday with my family and it was absolutely fine. Great service and good food. As chains go it's a good one.